Successful entrepreneurs solve problems for people. As a college student in San Diego, Robert Schulte created task-based management software to solve a problem for himself—having more time to spend at the beach. That turned into his first business and ignited a lifelong passion for building companies.
Robert’s expertise spans the full entrepreneurial lifecycle, from ideation to acquisition. His deep experience in tax compliance and FinTech has led to the creation of disruptive companies that have generated hundreds of millions in value. Most recently, as Founder of LumaTax (now part of Taxually), Robert built a company that transformed sales tax compliance for businesses across the globe.
“The most important attribute a founder can have is the ability to challenge oneself and make sure they’re working on the correct things,” Robert explains. “Strategy is just choosing what not to do.”
Robert’s entrepreneurial philosophy centers on perseverance, drive, and delegation. “Involve yourself with the brightest people. Don’t be afraid to hire people smarter than you. If you hire people to do a job, let them do the job and set an example of leadership rather than micromanage them,” he advises.
His career highlights include founding Taxcient (which merged with Avalara and went public in 2018), growing Zurple from concept to acquisition by Constellation Software, and serving as the first funded Entrepreneur in Residence at Pioneer Square Labs.
As a Venture Advisor at AI Fund, Robert brings his practical wisdom and technical expertise to guide founders through the critical early stages of company building. He’s particularly focused on helping seed-stage founders make the transition to effective leadership as their companies grow.
“What most founders run out of isn’t funding—it’s time,” Robert notes. “Being able to discern what will move the needle for your business most effectively is critical to success.”
With his accounting background, technical acumen, and decades of entrepreneurial experience, Robert offers founders a unique blend of strategic vision and operational insight that can help transform promising ideas into successful companies.
Let's Work Together
Ready to build something great?